Contact ring and seal



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 mm mm Feb. 6, 1968 [35 CORSO ET AL CONTACT RING AND SEAL Filed April 0, 1967 u I Om 3 w v N at x \8 M "E E a mm 7 k 1& m u mm \L/ i8 H I I H l l l l i l l n 8 \w. 1 Q v 1 M L Feb. 6, 1968 Filed April 6, 1967 S. M. DE CORSO ET AL lllllllll ll CONTACT RING AND SEAL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.2D.

United States Patent 3,36%,b2b Patented Feb. 6, 1968 ABSTRACT OF THE DHSCLU'SURE In electrodes which have a fluid cooled removable tip forming an arcing surface, a seal must be provided between the tip and the supporting structure for the tip, which supporting structure must carry current to the electrode tip from electrical connection means made to the supporting structure and which tip must also provide sealing against internal water pressure. We provide a single seal consisting of a deformable metal ring such as copper which may be round or hexagonal in cross-section and which is compressed into aligned annular grooves on the supporting structure and on the tip. Our seal may also be a deformable metal ring composed of two oblique slanting surfaces which are compressible. The ring may consist of a deformable gasket of soft metal or a deformable metal gasket having on the inside thereof a rubber portion.

Cross reference to related applications An application showing prior art structure over which our invention is an improvement is described in a copending application of S. M. De Corse et al., filed Mar. 17, 1965, Ser. No. 440,425, for Improved Electrode and Electrode Tip for Use Therein, and assigned to the assignee of the instant invention.

Background of the invention The invention relates to electrodes suitable for use in arc furnaces which employ fluid cooling of means forming the arcing surface, and which utilize the supporting structure of the arcing surface form-ing means to conduct fluid to and from said means and for conducting electrical current to produce and sustain the arc.

Description of the prior art The prior art electrode uses a metallic ring of conductive material making electrical contact with both the supporting structure and the electrode tip, and underneath this metallic ring is an O-ring seated in an annular space to provide a fluid-tight seal. This prior art structure is difiicult to make in assembly, requiring precise machining of the metallic ring and careful positioning of the rubber O-ring. By the use of a deformable metallic ring We overcome the difliculties and disadvantages of the prior art.

Summary of the invention In summary, our invent-ion includes a seal for use on an electrode having a fluid cooled removable tip forming an arcing surface and having a supporting structure with passageways for bringing cooling fluid to the electrode tip and for conducting fluid therefrom, the supporting structure also providing an electrically conductive path for current which produces the arc.

Brief description of the drawings FIGURE 1 is a view of an electrode having a removable fluid cooled tip and in which the supporting structure provides passageways for the flow of fluid and also conducts electricity to the tip forming the arcing surface. A seal and current carrying ring according to the prior art is shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2A is a view of the seal and ring of our invention according to one embodiment thereof.

FIG. 2B is a View of the seal and ring of our invention according to another embodiment thereof.

FIG. 2C is a view of the seal and ring according to still another embodiment of our invention.

FIG. 2D is a view of the seal and ring according to a further embodiment of our invention.

FIG. 2E is a view of the seal and ring according to still an additional embodiment of our invention.

Description 0 the preferred embodiments Particular reference is made now to FIG. 1 where an electrode tip and a portion of an electrode supporting structure are shown, half of the figure being in section and the other half in side elevation. The electrode is generally designated ll ll, has a supporting body portion 12 and a removable tip portion 13. The electrode supporting body portion is generally cylindrical in shape and it will be understood it extends a considerable distance beyond the point where it is shown broken off for the purpose of simplicity of illustration. The supporting portion 12 is seen to include four concentric cylindrical support members, the inner cylindrical member or cylindrical member of smallest diameter being designated 16, other cylindrical members being designated 17 and ill, and the outside cylindrical member of largest diameter being designated 19. A cylindrical passageway 20 for the flow of fluid is formed between members 16 and 17 and a cylindrical passageway 21 is formed between cylindrical members 1'8 and 19. The passageways 20 and 21 communicate with passageways 24 and 25 in an electrode supporting member 26 which is shown as being welded to the aforementioned cylindrical supporting members l6, l7, l8 and 19. The electrode support member 26 is seen to be composed of electrically conductive material, as are the cylindrical support members 16, 1'7, 18 and 19. Support member 26 is seen to have two annular flange portions 28 and 29. Passing through peripherally spaced bores in both of these flange portions are bolts for bolting the tip 13 to the supporting member 26, two of these bolts being shown at 311 and 32.

The aforementioned electrode tip is shown to be generally annular in shape and generally U-shaped in crosssection. It comprises an outer shell portion 35 and an inner shell portion 36 spaced therefrom, with the space between the outer and the inner shell portions being occupied by means forming a plurality of discrete passageways 38 for the flow of cooling fluid near the arcing surface 39 of the tip. The aforementioned passageways 38 near the arcing surface communicates at the ends thereof with fluid headers 41 and 42 which are annular in shape, fluid header 4 1 communicating with passageway 24 and fluid header 42 communicating with passageway 25, thus completing a circuit for bringing fluid to cool the electrode tip and conducting fluid therefrom atter it is passed around the passageways in the electrode tip.

A lead 44 connected to cylinder 19 symbolizes means for bringing arc current to the electrode tip and a further lead 45 connected to cylinder 16 symbolizes an additional electrical connection to a source of potential. A current path from lead 44 passes through cylinder 19, through the electrode support member 26, through a triangular metallic ring 48 to shell 35, the metallic ring 48 making electrical contact with the outer shell 35 of the electrode tip 13. Current from lead 45 passes through cylinder 16 through electrode support member 26 through a triangular metallic ring 51 to the outer shell 35. In the space 53 between the outer wall of member 26 and the outer annular wall of shell 35, there is an O-ring 54, and in the space 56 between the support member 26 and the inner annular wall of the shell 35 there is an O-ring 55. Rings 47 and 50 are back-up rings for the O-rings 54 and 55 which are water seals to prevent fluid in the headers 42 and 41, respectively, from leaking out around the top of the electrode tip 13 on either side thereof. The water pressure forces the rings against the rings 47 and 50 exerting pressure on the triangular shaped metal rings 48 and 51 thereby causing these last named rings to make good electrical contact with both shell and support member 26.

The sealing arrangement of FIG. 1 has proved troublesome from the viewpoint of difficulty in assembly.

Particular reference is made now to FIG. 2A, where a ring and seal according to one embodiment of our invention is shown. The inner guide surface 66 of the electrode tip 13 is seen adjacent a joining surface of the electrode supporting member 26. A bolt 32 is seen passing through a bore in the flange portion 29 of supporting member 26 and thence into a threaded bore in the electrode tip 13. The flange portion 29 has on the under surface thereof an annular groove 61 extending around the entire supporting member and the top surface of the electrode tip 13 is seen to have an annular groove 62 extending therearound. Disposed in this pair of grooves is a deformable copper ring seal 63. Ring 63, when deformed by the pressure of peripherally spaced bolts 32 forms a fluid-tight seal and also provides a current path for are current.

It will be understood that the seal is also employed on the other side or inside of the electrode tip, replacing the ring 50 and the O-ring 55. In summary, two annular sealing rings are used with each electrode tip, and four annular grooves, two in the electrode tip and two in support member 26, are employed.

The deformable ring 63 may have the cross-section shown or may have a circular cross-section as does the ring 64.

Particular reference is made now to FIG. 2B which shows the second embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 2B the bottom surface of the flange portion 29 of electrode support member 26 is shown to have an annular groove therearound shaped as illustrated and the top surface of the electrode tip 13 is shown to have an annular groove therearound shaped as illustrated. A deformable copper ring member 70 is deformed by pressure of bolts 32 forming an excellent electrical connection for the flow of current between the supporting member 26 and the tip 13, and providing a perfect fluid-tight seal. The ring 70 may be shaped as shown or have a complementary shape, as has ring 71. Again, it will be understood that two rings are required, with corresponding grooves, one for the outer annular wall of the tip and the other for the inner annular wall of the tip.

Particular reference is made now to FIG. 2C. In FIG. 2C the bottom surface of flange portion 29 is smooth and the top surface of the tip member 13 is smooth. Disposed betweenthe bottom surface of the flange portion 29 and the top surface of the tip 13 is a deformable metal gasket or ring 67 which, when deformed by the pressure of peripherally spaced bolts 32 which pass through spaced bores in the ring, forms a path for current to the arc tip and provides a perfect fluid-tight seal.

Particular reference is made now to FIG. 2D, where a seal according to a further embodiment'of our invention is shown. The lower surface of flange portion 29 is smooth and the upper surface of the tip 13 is smooth. A metallic ring 69 with peripherally spaced bores therethrough has a width such that an additional ring '70 of rubber or other resilient material is disposed adjacent thereto between the surface of the flange portion and the upper surface of the tip 13. The rubber ring 80 and the metallic ring 69 composed of a relatively soft metal, such as copper, are compressed and deformed as a result of pressure from peripherally spaced bolts 32 and provide a fluid-tight seal and a current conduction path between member 26 and the tip 13.

Particular reference is made now to FIG. 2E. The flat surfaced annular ring 72 composed of a deformable metal, such as copper, has peripherally spaced bores 73 therethrough for the passage of sealing bolts 32, and has on the portion of the ring nearest fluid header 42 two annular grooves 74 and 75 on the upper and lower surfaces of the ring respectively, and has rubber rings 76 and 77 disposed in the aforementioned grooves, respectively. Ring 72, when deformed by pressure of bolts 32, forms a good current flow path from body to tip and rubber rings 76 and 77 additionally provide fluid tight seals.

The aforegoing written description and the drawings are illustrative and exemplary only, and should not be interpreted in a limiting sense.

We claim as our invention:

1. In an electrode for an arc furnace comprising an extended body portion at least a portion of which is composed of electrically conductive material and which includes fluid passageways, and a removable electrode tip having fluid passageways therein near the arcing surface of the tip, said passageways communicating with at least one fluid outlet passageway in the body portion and at least one fluid inlet passageway in the body portion, the improvement which comprises at least one ring seal between the body portion and the tip portion, the ring seal including a deformable annular metal ring, the ring being compressed by means attaching the tip to the body portion of the electrode and forming a path for are current from the body portion of the elertrode to the tip, the ring while deformed also providing a fluid-tight seal which prevents the escape of fluid between the tip and the electrode body portion.

2. A sealing ring according to claim 1 in which the electrode body portion has a tip supporting portion, and the abutting surfaces of the tip supporting portion and the electrode tip are additionally characterized as having aligned annular grooves extending therearound, and the sealing ring is circular in cross-section, is disposed in the aligned annular grooves and is deformed by the pressure of means for attaching the tip to the tip supporting portion of the electrode.

3. A seal according to claim 1 in which the electrode body portion has a tip supporting portion, abutting surfaces of the tip supporting portion and the electrode tip having annular aligned grooves therein, and the seal is a hexagonal ring of a deformable metal, the ring being deformed by pressure exerted by means for attaching the tip to the tip supporting portion, the ring providing a path for current flowing from the body portion to the tip to produce the arc, the ring while deformed providing a fluid-tight seal and preventing the escape of fluid in the space between the tip and the tip supporting portion.

4. A ring and seal for use in an electrode according to claim 1 in which the electrode body portion includes a tip supporting portion including an annular flange with an annular groove on the under side thereof, the annular flange extending over and covering an upper facing surface of the electrode tip, said last-named surface having an annular groove therein in alignment with the firstnamed groove, the ring being generally triangular in shape and consisting of deformable metal having two flat portions formed integrally with each other and extending at an angle with respect to each other, the ring being disposed in the two annular rooves.

5. A ring seal according to claim 1 for use in an electrode having a supporting body portion with a tip supporting flange extending therearound and having a pinrality of bores therethrough, the electrode tip extending adjacent the lower surface of the flange portion and having a plurality of threaded bores therein, a plurality of peripherally spaced bolts around the flange portion for joining the tip to the flange portion, and the ring of deformable metal is characterized as being interposed between the lower surface of the flange portion and the upper surface of the tip, the ring of deformable metal being tightly clamped by said bolts and providing a current path from the metallic portion of the electrode body to the tip to bring arc current to the electrode tip, the ring while deformed by pressure of the bolts providing a fluid-tight seal.

6. A sealing ring according to claim 1 in which the electrode supporting structure is additionally characterized as having a flange portion and the electrode tip is characterized as having an upper surface abutting against the lower surface of the flange portion, the flange portion and the tip having spaced bores around the periphery thereof to receive bolts for holding the flange portion to the tip, the ring being made in tWo sections, one of said sections being annular and having spaced bores therein for the passage of the bolts and being composed of a deformable metal, and the other of said sections being annular and of smaller outside diameter than the firstnamed section, said other section being composed of a resilient material and having surfaces substantially coplanar with the surfaces of the metal section, the metal section and the section of resilient material while deformed by pressure of the bolts forming a current path for arc current from the body portion of the electrode to the tip and forming a fluid-tight seal.

7. In an electrode according to claim 1 characterized as having a supporting structure on the body portion including a flange portion with the lower surface of the flange portion being adapted to receive an upper corresponding surface of the tip, the flange portion and the tip having peripherally spaced bores for receiving a plu rality of bolts for attaching the tip to the flange portion, a sealing ring including a portion of deformable metal having spaced bores therethrough through which the bolts pass, the portion of deformable metal having an annular groove on the upper surface thereof and an annular groove on the lower surface thereof, both of said grooves being disposed on the side of the bores adjacent the fluid passageways within the tip and the fluid passageway Within the electrode body portion, and a pair of rings of resilient material disposed in the upper and lower grooves respectively, the portion of deformable metal and the rings of resilient material being deformed by the pressure of the bolts and providing a current path for current from the body portion to the tip of the electrode and providing a fluid-tight seal to prevent the escape of fluid between the electrode supporting structure and the tip.

8. A seal and ring according to claim 4, in which the two surfaces of the ring are joined in a manner whereby both of the surfaces extend from the joint between surfaces away from the axis of the electrode.

9. A seal and ring according to claim 4 in which the two surfaces of the ring are joined in a manner whereby the two surfaces extend from the joint between surfaces toward the center of the electrode and toward the center axis of the tip.

10. A ring seal according to claim 1 composed of copper.

11. A ring seal according to claim 2 composed of copper.

12. A ring seal according to claim 4 composed of copper.

13. A ring seal according to claim 6 composed of copper.

14. A ring seal according to claim 7 composed of copper.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,370,467 2/1945 Hopkins 164-5 2,736,759 2/1956 Penberthy 1317 3,307,011 2/1967 Baird 219 BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner. H. B. GILSON, Assistant Examiner. 

